Universally movable control lever assembly

ABSTRACT

A backhoe comprises a horizontally rotatable and vertically pivotable boom, a vertically pivotable stick mounted on the boom and a vertically pivotable dipper mounted on the stick, all of which components are movable by hydraulic actuators in response to operation of four control valves. The four control valves are independently operated by four generally parallel control rods which are axially movable by two separate universally movable operator&#39;&#39;s manual control levers located on a control platform on the backhoe, along with other operator controls. Each of the two universally movable manual control levers is pivotably movable in a first plane to move one backhoe component; in a second plane (normal to the first) to move a second backhoe component; and in other planes transverse to the first and second planes to effect simultaneous but proportional movement of the two backhoe components.

United States Patent [191 Schwantes [451 Aug. '13, 1974 [75] inventor:Herbert A. Schwantes, Cedar Rapids, Iowa [73] Assignee: HarnischfegerCorporation, W.

Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 283,477

[52] US. Cl. 214/138 R, 180/648 [51] Int. Cl B66f 9/00 [58] Field ofSearch 214/138, 140; ISO/6.48, 180/62, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,214,040 10/1965 Willinger214/138 R 3,388,821 6/1968 White ISO/6.48 3,567,051 3/1971 Bell 180/6.483,698,580 10/1972 Carlson 214/138 R 3,721,357 3/1973 Williamson 214/138R Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-John MannixAttorney, Agent, or Firm-James E. Nilles [5 7] ABSTRACT Abackhoe-comprises a horizontally rotatable and vertically pivotableboom, a vertically pivotable stick mounted on the boom and a verticallypivotable dipper mounted on the stick, all of which components aremovable by hydraulic actuators in response to operation of four controlvalves. The four control valves are independently operated by fourgenerally parallel control rods which are axially movable by twoseparate universally movable operators manual control levers located ona control platform on the backhoe, along with other operator controls.Each of the two universally movable manual control levers is pivotablymovable in a first plane to move one backhoe component; in a secondplane (normal to the first) to move a second backhoe component; and inother planes transverse to the first and second planes to effectsimultaneous but proportional movement of the two backhoe components.

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. l I UNIVERSALLY MOVABLE CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of Use This invention relates generally to manuallyoperable control levers for operating control valves for hydrauliccylinders or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Machines, such as backhoes, usuallycomprise a mobile lower section and a horizontally rotatable uppersection on which vertically pivotable boom is mounted. A stick ismounted for vertical pivotable movement on the boom and a dipper ismounted for vertical pivotable movement on the stick. In hydraulicallyoperated machines, rotation of the machine upper and pivotal movement ofthe boom, stick and dipper are effected by individual hydraulicactuators and the extend and retract movements of each cylinder arecontrolled by a conventional three-position valve. Each such valve has alinear movable valve spool which has extend, neutral and retractpositions. Each valve spool is operated by a control rod which isconnected to a manually operable control lever located on an operatorscontrol platform on the machine. Heretofore, an individual control leverwas provided for each control rod and valve and each control lever wasmovable, for example, from a centered neutral position either forward orbackward to effect appropriate movements of the single backhoe component(upper, boom, stick or dipper) which it controlled. Such an arrangementrequired one control lever for each component and when more than twocontrol levers were provided, required the machine operator toneutralize and release his grasp on one control lever while he operatedanother. Therefore, in machines where numerous control functions wererequired, such an arrangement necessitated numerous control leverscrowded together within reach of the operator. Thus, greater operatorskill was required, the possibility of operator-error was increased,operator fatigue resulted and smooth andcoordinated use of the controllevers was inhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention contemplates amachine, such as a backhoe, comprising components, such as a machineupper, a boom, a stick and a dipper, which are to be moved by means ofindividual actuators, such as hydraulic motor or cylinders. Eachactuator is controlled by a multiposition main control valve, such as athreeposition valve having. extend, retract and neutral positions. Eachmain control valve comprises a linear movable valve spool which isconnected to and operated by a control rod. The control rods, which arein generally parallel arrangement, extend to a. control platformassembly on the machine where they are connected to control leverassemblies in accordance with the invention.

Each control lever assembly is adapted to be connected to move oroperate two control rods (and, therefore, two valves) eitherindependently of each other or simultaneously in proportional movement.In the embodiment shown, there is a left hand control lever assembly foroperating the swing control rod and the dipper control rodv and there isa right hand lever assembly for operating the stick control rod and theboom hoist control rod.

Each control lever assembly comprises a support bracket mounted on thecontrol platform and a first pin carried by the bracket. A pivot link ispivotably mounted on the first pin and is pivotably connected to one ofthe control rods. A second pin is carried by the pivot link and isspaced from and at right angles to the first pin. A manual control leveris pivotably mounted on the second pin and includes an arm on which aball joint is mounted. The arm of the manual control lever is pivotablyconnected through this ball joint and through suitable linkage to theother control rod. The center of rotation of this ball joint lies on theaxis of the first pin. Consequently, pivotal movement of the manualcontrol lever in a first plane about the first pin effects axialmovement of the said one control rod. Pivotal movement of the manualcontrol lever in a second plane about the second pin effects axialmovement of the said other control rod. Pivotal movement of the manualcontrol lever in any other plane transverse to both the said first andsecond planes effects simultaneous and proportional movement of bothcontrol rods. In a preferred embodiment, the aforesaid linkage comprisesa shaft rotatably mounted between the support brackets of the right handand left hand control lever assemblies. Lever arms secured to androtatable with the shaft connect one manual control lever and one of thecontrol rods therefor. A bell crank rotatably mounted on the shaftconnects the other manual control lever and one of the control rodstherefor.

Control lever assemblies in accordance with the invention reduce thenumber of individual control levers needed to perform specified controlfunctions, simplify operation of the control levers, reduce operatorfatigue, reduce the chance of operator error in lever selection, enablesmoother control application and have other objects and advantages aswill hereinafter appear.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a backhoe of the type wherein theinvention is advantageously employed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of an operators control platformassembly and associated control valves of the backhoe shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the control platform assembly taken on line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one control lever assembly of theplatform assembly taken on line 4-4' of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view of a sub-assembly on the control plat- .form assemblytaken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the control valves taken on line 7--7 of FIG.2;

FIG. 8 is a detail view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is an end view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a side view of a machinesuch as a backhoe 10 comprising a mobile crawler tractor type lowersection 11 having right and left tracks on which a horizon- 3 tallyrotatable upper section 12 is mounted. A boom 13 is mounted for verticalpivotal movement on upper section 12 by a pin 14 and is operated by ahydraulic boom hoist cylinder 15. A stick 16 is mounted for verticalpivotal movement on boom 13 by a pin 17 and is operated by a hydraulicdig cylinder 18. A dipper 19 is mounted for vertical pivotal movement onstick 16 by a pin 20 and is operated by a hydraulic dipper cylinder 21.Upper section 12 of backhoe 10 is rotated by operation of a hydraulicmotor 22. Backhoe 10 has an operators cab wherein a control platformassembly 26 is located on which certain manual and pedal operatedcontrols are mounted.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of control platform assembly 26 whichcomprises a rigid metal platform 27, a right hand control lever assembly28 for operating boom 13 and stick 16, a left hand control leverassembly 29 for operating swing movement of upper section 12 and dipper19, a right pedal assembly 30 for operating the right track of thebackhoe, and a left pedal assembly 31 for operating the left track ofthe backhoe.

Right hand control lever assembly 28 is connected to and operates a boomhoist control rod 32 (connected to the axially movable valve spool of aboom control valve 33) and a stick control rod 34 (connected to theaxially movable valve spool of a stick control valve 35).

Left hand control lever assembly 29 is connected to and operates a swingcontrol rod 36 (connected to the axially movable valve spoolof a swingcontrol valve 37) and a dipper control rod 38 (connected to the axiallymovable valve spool of a dipper control valve 39).

The right and left pedal assemblies 30 and 31 are connected to andoperate right and left propel control rods 40 and 41 which are connectedto the axially movable valve spools of the right and left propel controlvalves 42 and 43, respectively. As FIGS. 8 and 9 show, left pedalassembly 31, its control rod 41 and valve 43 are connected as follows. Abracket is secured to platform 27 by bolts 51 and carries a pin 49 whichis secured thereto by a fastener 53 which extends into a hole 54 in pin49 and is attached to bracket 50 by a bolt 55. A treadle 52 is pivotablymounted on pin 49 and an offset clevis 56 is attached to a projection onthe treadle by a pin 57. Clevis 56 is secured to one end of rod 41 andthe other end of the rod is connected to the axially movable valve stemof valve 43. Rod 41 is provided with a downwardly depending projection58 which is connected by an adjustable rod 59 to a detent member 60which extends into a detent mechanism 61 which includes an adjustablespring-load ball (not shown). The detent mechanism prevents movement ofrod 41 to operate valve 43 until a predetermined force is applied totreadle 52. It is to be understood that right pedal as sembly 30, itscontrol rod 40 and valve 42 are similarly arranged as FIG. 2 shows.

As FIG. 2 shows, the various control valves are arranged or grouped inbanks and are located some distance to the rear of the platform 27andthe various control rods therefor are in a generally parallelarrangement beneath the platform.

As FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show, the right and left hand control leverassemblies 28 and 29 are similar in construction and mode of operationbut are reverse-images of each other. To facilitate description,identical components in each assembly are designated herein by the samereference numerals followed by the suffix letter R or L, depending onwhether it is part of the right or left hand assembly.

Platform 27 has holes R and 70L for accommodating the assemblies 28 and29 and the assemblies comprise a support bracket 71R and 71L which aresecured to the platform by bolts 72R and 72L. The brackets 71R and 71Lhave bushings 73R and 73L secured thereto by bolts 74R and 74L and thebushings rotatably support a control lever shaft 75 therebetween. Twolevers 76R and 76L, one vertical and the other horizontal are clampednear the ends of shaft 75 and are rotatable therewith. A bell crank 77is rotatably mounted on shaft 75 and comprises two arms 77L, and 77R,one vertical and the other horizontal.

The brackets 71R and 71L also support first pins 78R and 78L which areparallel to shaft 75. Pivot links 79R and 79L are pivotably mounted onthe pins 78R and 78L and have depending portions which are pivotablyconnected by ball joints 80R and 80L to the boom control rod 32 and theswing control rod 36, respectively. The pivot links 79R and 79L supportsecond pins 81R and 81L, which are disposed above and at right angles tothe first pins. Control levers 82R and 82L are pivotably mounted on thesecond pins 81R and 81L and have arms or extensions 83R and 83L on whicha ball joint assemblies 84R and 84L are mounted. The centers of rotationof the ball joint assemblies 84R and 84L lie on the axes of rotaiton ofthe first pins 78R and 78L, respectively. The ball joint assemblies 84Rand 84L are connected by vertical rods 85R and 85L to ball joints 86Rand 86L. Ball joint 86R is pivotably connected to horizontal bellcrankarm 77R and ball joint 86L is pivotably connected to horizontal lever76L. Vertical lever arm 76R is connected by a ball joint 88R to dippercontrol rod 38.

The control levers 81R and 82L are provided with offset manuallyoperable handles 89R and 89L and flexible rubber boots, such as 90 shownin FIG. 4, are secured to platform 27 to protect the assemblies 28 andReferring to FIG. 2, the following motions of the handles 89R and 89Leffect the following control functions.

Right hand lever 89R:

Forward (toward left in FIG. 2)boom lower Rearward (toward right in FIG.2)-boom hoist Right (toward top in FIG. 2)stick open Left (toward bottomin FIG. 2)--stick dig.

Left hand lever 89L:

Forward (toward left in FIG. 2)-swing right Rearward (toward right inFIG. 2)swing left Right (toward top in FIG. 2)dipper dig Left (towardbottom in FIG. 2)dipper open The forward-rearward movements of eachcontrol handle 89R or 89L take place in a first plane, while theright-left movements take place in a second plane which is normal to thesaid first plane. Such independent motion is possible in each controllever assembly 28 and 29 because the center of rotation of the balljoint assemblies 84R and 84L lie on the axes of the pins 78R and 78L,respectively. If a control handle is moved in any plane transverse tothe first and second planes, however, two appropriate control functionswill result with proportional movement of each, depending on the degreeof transverseness.

As FIGS. 2 and 7 show, swing control rod 36 is pivotally connected by abolt 92 to the lower end of a lever arm 93 which is, in turn, mounted ona pivot pin 94 on a bracket 95 secured to a platform 96. Platform 96affords support for the valves 43, 35, 33, 39, 42, and 37. The upper endof lever arm 93 is pivotably connected by a pin 97 to a link 98 which,in turn, is connected by a pin 99 to the linearly movable valve stem ofswing control valve 37.

FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 show an arrangement whereby operation of boom hoistcontrol rod 32 for hoist valve 33 also effects operation of another boomrod 100 and its boom valve 101 to accomplish certain control functionswhich are necessarily involved in the embodiment of the invention shown.Thus, platform 27 carries brackets 102R and 102L which have bushings103R and 13L that support a cross shaft 104. As FIG. 2 shows, boom hoistcontrol rod 32 is connected by a linkage 105 to a rod 106. Rod 106includes a depending bracket 107 which is pivotably connected by anadjustable linkage 108 to an arm 109 on cross shaft 103. Cross shaft 104also carries an arm 110 which is connected by a ball joint 111 to rod100.

Resume A backhoe comprises components, such as a machine upper 12, aboom 13, a stick l6, and a dipper 19, which are moved by means ofindividual actuators, such as a pump 22 and hydraulic cylinders 15, 18,and 21, respectively. Each actuator is controlled by a multipositionmain control valve, such as three-position valves 37, 33, 35 and 39having extend, retract and neutral positions. Each main control valve37, 33, 35 and 39 comprises a linear movable valve spool which isconnected to and operated by a control rod 36, 32, 34 and 38,respectively. The control rods, which are in generally parallelarrangement, extend to a control platform assembly 26 on the machinewhere they are connected to right and left control lever assemblies 28and 29, respectively, in accordance with the invention.

Each control lever assembly 28 and 29 is adapted to be connected to moveor operate two control rods (and, therefore, two valves) eitherindependently of each other or simultaneously in proportional movement.In the embodiment shown, left hand control lever assembly 29 operatesthe swing control rod 36 and the dipper control rod 38 and right handlever assembly 28 operates the stick control rod 34 and the boom hoistcontrol rod 32.

The control lever assemblies 28 and 29 comprise support brackets 71R and71L mounted on a control platform 27 and first pins 78R and 78L arecarried by the brackets. Pivot links 79R and 79L are pivotably mountedon the first pins 78R and 78L and are pivotably connected to the controlrods 32 and 36, respectively. Second pins 81R and 81L are carried by thepivot links 79R and 79L and are spaced from and at right angles to thefirst pins 78R and 78L. Manual control levers 82R and 82L are pivotablymounted on the second pins 81R and 81L and include arms 83R and 83L onwhich ball joint assemblies 84R and 84L are mounted. The arms of themanual control levers 82R and 82L are pivotably connected through theseball joint assemblies 84R and 84L and through suitable linkage to theother control rods 38 and 34, respectively. The center of rotation ofthese ball joint assemblies lie on the axes of the first pins 78R and78L. Consequently, pivotal movement of a manual control lever in a firstplane about its first pin effects axial movement of one of its controlrods. Pivotal movement of the same manual control lever in a secondplane about its second pin effects axial movement of the other of itscontrol rods. Pivotal movement of the manual control lever in any otherplane transverse to both the said first and second planes effectssimultaneous and proportional movement of both control rods. In apreferred embodiment, the aforesaid linkage comprises a shaft rotatablymounted between the support brackets 71R and 71L of the right hand andleft hand control lever assemblies 28 and 29. Lever arms 76L and 76Rsecured to and rotatable with shaft 75 connect manual control lever 82Land control rod 38. A bell crank 77 rotatably mounted on shaft 75connects the other manual control lever 82R and control rod 34.

I claim:

1. In a mobile material handling machine:

at least two components which are movable either individually orsimultaneously; at least two actuators operable to effect movement ofsaid components, one actuator being provided for each component;

and a control lever assembly including a control lever movable to affectoperation of said actuators either individually or simultaneously formoving two components either individually or simultaneously, saidcontrol lever assembly comprising:

a first member mounted on said machine for pivotal movement about afirst axis and operatively con nected to one of said actuators,

a second member to which said control lever is connected mounted on saidfirst member for pivotable movement about a second axis,

and ball joint means operatively connecting said second member and theother of said actuators and having its center of rotation on said firstaxis and spaced from said second axis, whereby an actuator is operatedonly when the member connected thereto is pivoted about its axis inresponse to movement of said control lever.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said ball joint meanscomprises a ball, a link rigidly connected to said ball and operativelyconnected to said other actuator, and wherein said ball is supported ona ball holding structure which is rigidly connected to and movable withsaid second member.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said control lever assemblycomprises at least a pair of movable control rods, one rod for effectingoperation of each actuator,

wherein said first member is pivotably connected to a control rod forsaid one actuator and wherein said link is pivotably connected to acontrol rod for said other actuator.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said control rods are movableparallel to each other and including a bell crank pivotably connected tosaid link and to said control rod for said other actuator.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein only one actuator is operatedwhen said lever is moved in a first plane, wherein only the otheractuator is operated when said lever is moved in a second planetransverse to said first plane, and wherein both actuators are operatedproportionately and simultaneously when said lever is moved in a thirdplane which is transverse to both said first and second planes.

7. A machine according to claim 6 including at least two control rodsfor said actuators, each control rod being operatively connected betweena member and an actuator, and wherein said two control rods are parallelto each other.

8. In a mobile material handling machine:

at least two components which are movable either individually orsimultaneously; at least two actuators operable to effect movement ofsaid components, one actuator being provided for each component;

and a control lever assembly comprising:

a support on said machine,

first and second axially movable parallel control rods extending in onedirection, each control rod being operatively connected to one actuator,

a first pin on said support and spaced from and transverse to said rods,

a first member pivotably mounted on said first pin and pivotablyconnected to said first rod,

a second pin on said first member and spaced from and transverse to saidfirst pin,

a second member pivotably mounted on said second a bell crank on saidsupport and pivotably about an axis transverse to said rods, one arm ofsaid bell crank pivotably connected to said second rod,

a link pivotably connected to the other arm of said bell crank,

ball joint means connecting said second member to said link,

said ball joint means lying on the same axis of said first pin,

and an opening handle on said second member for pivotally moving saidsecond member on said second pin to move said second rod axially, andfor pivotably moving said first member on said first pin to move saidfirst rod axially without effecting axial movement of said second rod.

9. ln a mobile material handling machine:

at least four components which are movable either individually orsimultaneously; at least four actuators operable to effect movement ofsaid components, one actuator being provided for each component;

first and second control lever assemblies,

each assembly including a control lever adapted to be moved to effectoperation of two actuators to thereby move two components eitherindividually or simultaneously, each assembly comprising:

a first member mounted on saidvmachine for pivotal movement about afirst axis and operatively connected to one of said actuators,

a second member to which the control lever of the assembly is connected.

said second member mounted on said first member and pivotable about asecond axis,

and ball joint means connected to said second member, said ball jointmeans having its center of rotation on said first axis and spaced fromsaid second axis.

a bell crank connected to the ball joint means of the first assembly andto another of said actuators, and

lever means connected to the ball joint means of the second assembly andto still another of said actuators.

10. A machine according to claim 9 wherein said bell crank and saidlever means pivot about the same axis of rotation.

11. In a mobile material handling machine:

at least four components which are movable either individually orsimultaneously; at least four actuators operable to effect movement ofsaid components, one actuator being provided for each component;

first and second control lever assemblies,

each assembly including a support bracket on said machine,

a pair of control rods, one for each actuator,

and a control lever adapted to move said two control rods eitherindividually or simultaneously,

each assembly further comprising:

a first pivot pin mounted on the support bracket,

a pivot link pivotably mounted on said first pivot pin and pivotablyconnected to a control rod,

a second pivot pin mounted on said pivot link, said second pivot pinbeing disposed at right angles to said first pivot pin, said controllever of said assembly being pivotably mounted on said second pivot pin,and ball joint means connected to said control lever,

said ball joint means having its center of rotation on the axis ofrotation of said first pivot pin, a rotatable shaft mounted between thesupport brackets of said first and second assemblies, first and secondlever arms connected to and movable with said shaft, one lever arm beingpivotably connected to the ball joint means of one control leverassembly and the other lever arm being pivotably connected to a controlrod, and a bell crank pivotably mounted on said shaft, one arm of saidbell crank being pivotably connected to the ball joint means of theother control lever assembly and the other arm of said bell crank beingpivotably connected to a control rod. 12. A machine according to claim11 including four control rods arranged in generally parallelrelationship to each other and at generally right angles to said shaft.

13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein the axes of the first pivotpins for the first and second control assemblies are generally parallelto the axis of said shaft.

14. A backhoe comprising: a horizontally rotatable upper section, a boommounted for vertical pivotal movement on said upper section, a stickmounted for vertical pivotal movement on said boom, and a dipper mountedfor vertical pivotal movement on said stick; a swing control valve, aboom control valve. a stick control valve, and a dipper control valveoperable to move said upper section, said boom, said stick and saiddipper, respectively;

control rods connected to each of said control valves;

a first control lever assembly for operating the control rods for saidswing control valve and said dipper control valve;

and a second control lever assembly for operating the control rods forsaid stick control valve and said boom control valve;

each control level assembly comprising a manually operable control levermovable in a first plane to operate one control rod and the valvetherefor and movable in a second plane to operate another control rodand the valve therefor, said control lever being further movable in anyplane transverse to said first and second planes to effect simultaneousand proportional operation of the two valves associated therewith, eachcontrol lever assembly further comprising a first member mounted on saidbackhoe for pivotal movement about a first axis and operativelyconnected to one of said control rods,

a second member to which said control lever is connected mounted on saidfirst member for pivotable movement about a second axis,

and ball joint means operatively connecting said second member andanother one of said control rods and having its center of rotation onsaid first axis and spaced from said second axis, whereby a control rodis moved only when the member connected thereto is pivoted about itsaxis in response to movement of said control lever.

1. In a mobile material handling machine: at least two components whichare movable either individually or simultaneously; at least twoactuators operable to effect movement of said components, one actuatorbeing provided for each component; and a control lever assemblyincluding a control lever movable to affect operation of said actuatorseither individually or simultaneously for moving two components eitherindividually or simultaneously, said control lever assembly comprising:a first member mounted on said machine for pivotal movement about afirst axis and operatively connected to one of said actuators, a secondmember to which said control lever is connected mounted on said firstmember for pivotable movement about a second axis, and ball joint meansoperatively connecting said second member and the other of saidactuators and having its center of rotation on said first axis andspaced from said second axis, whereby an actuator is operated only whenthe member connected thereto is pivoted about its axis in response tomovement of said control lever.
 2. A machine according to claim 1wherein said ball joint means comprises a ball, a link rigIdly connectedto said ball and operatively connected to said other actuator, andwherein said ball is supported on a ball holding structure which isrigidly connected to and movable with said second member.
 3. A machineaccording to claim 2 wherein said control lever assembly comprises atleast a pair of movable control rods, one rod for effecting operation ofeach actuator, wherein said first member is pivotably connected to acontrol rod for said one actuator and wherein said link is pivotablyconnected to a control rod for said other actuator.
 4. A machineaccording to claim 3 wherein said control rods are movable parallel toeach other and including a bell crank pivotably connected to said linkand to said control rod for said other actuator.
 5. A machine accordingto claim 1 wherein only one actuator is operated when said lever ismoved in a first plane, wherein only the other actuator is operated whensaid lever is moved in a second plane transverse to said first plane,and wherein both actuators are operated proportionately andsimultaneously when said lever is moved in a third plane which istransverse to both said first and second planes.
 6. A machine accordingto claim 5 wherein said first and second axis are normal to each otherand wherein said first and second planes are normal to each other.
 7. Amachine according to claim 6 including at least two control rods forsaid actuators, each control rod being operatively connected between amember and an actuator, and wherein said two control rods are parallelto each other.
 8. In a mobile material handling machine: at least twocomponents which are movable either individually or simultaneously; atleast two actuators operable to effect movement of said components, oneactuator being provided for each component; and a control lever assemblycomprising: a support on said machine, first and second axially movableparallel control rods extending in one direction, each control rod beingoperatively connected to one actuator, a first pin on said support andspaced from and transverse to said rods, a first member pivotablymounted on said first pin and pivotably connected to said first rod, asecond pin on said first member and spaced from and transverse to saidfirst pin, a second member pivotably mounted on said second pin, a bellcrank on said support and pivotably about an axis transverse to saidrods, one arm of said bell crank pivotably connected to said second rod,a link pivotably connected to the other arm of said bell crank, balljoint means connecting said second member to said link, said ball jointmeans lying on the same axis of said first pin, and an opening handle onsaid second member for pivotally moving said second member on saidsecond pin to move said second rod axially, and for pivotably movingsaid first member on said first pin to move said first rod axiallywithout effecting axial movement of said second rod.
 9. In a mobilematerial handling machine: at least four components which are movableeither individually or simultaneously; at least four actuators operableto effect movement of said components, one actuator being provided foreach component; first and second control lever assemblies, each assemblyincluding a control lever adapted to be moved to effect operation of twoactuators to thereby move two components either individually orsimultaneously, each assembly comprising: a first member mounted on saidmachine for pivotal movement about a first axis and operativelyconnected to one of said actuators, a second member to which the controllever of the assembly is connected, said second member mounted on saidfirst member and pivotable about a second axis, and ball joint meansconnected to said second member, said ball joint means having its centerof rotation on said first axis and spaced from said second axis. a bellcrank connected to the ball joint means of the first assembly and toanother of said actuators, and lever means connected to the ball jointmeans of the second assembly and to still another of said actuators. 10.A machine according to claim 9 wherein said bell crank and said levermeans pivot about the same axis of rotation.
 11. In a mobile materialhandling machine: at least four components which are movable eitherindividually or simultaneously; at least four actuators operable toeffect movement of said components, one actuator being provided for eachcomponent; first and second control lever assemblies, each assemblyincluding a support bracket on said machine, a pair of control rods, onefor each actuator, and a control lever adapted to move said two controlrods either individually or simultaneously, each assembly furthercomprising: a first pivot pin mounted on the support bracket, a pivotlink pivotably mounted on said first pivot pin and pivotably connectedto a control rod, a second pivot pin mounted on said pivot link, saidsecond pivot pin being disposed at right angles to said first pivot pin,said control lever of said assembly being pivotably mounted on saidsecond pivot pin, and ball joint means connected to said control lever,said ball joint means having its center of rotation on the axis ofrotation of said first pivot pin, a rotatable shaft mounted between thesupport brackets of said first and second assemblies, first and secondlever arms connected to and movable with said shaft, one lever arm beingpivotably connected to the ball joint means of one control leverassembly and the other lever arm being pivotably connected to a controlrod, and a bell crank pivotably mounted on said shaft, one arm of saidbell crank being pivotably connected to the ball joint means of theother control lever assembly and the other arm of said bell crank beingpivotably connected to a control rod.
 12. A machine according to claim11 including four control rods arranged in generally parallelrelationship to each other and at generally right angles to said shaft.13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein the axes of the first pivotpins for the first and second control assemblies are generally parallelto the axis of said shaft.
 14. A backhoe comprising: a horizontallyrotatable upper section, a boom mounted for vertical pivotal movement onsaid upper section, a stick mounted for vertical pivotal movement onsaid boom, and a dipper mounted for vertical pivotal movement on saidstick; a swing control valve, a boom control valve, a stick controlvalve, and a dipper control valve operable to move said upper section,said boom, said stick and said dipper, respectively; control rodsconnected to each of said control valves; a first control lever assemblyfor operating the control rods for said swing control valve and saiddipper control valve; and a second control lever assembly for operatingthe control rods for said stick control valve and said boom controlvalve; each control level assembly comprising a manually operablecontrol lever movable in a first plane to operate one control rod andthe valve therefor and movable in a second plane to operate anothercontrol rod and the valve therefor, said control lever being furthermovable in any plane transverse to said first and second planes toeffect simultaneous and proportional operation of the two valvesassociated therewith, each control lever assembly further comprising afirst member mounted on said backhoe for pivotal movement about a firstaxis and operatively connected to one of said control rods, a secondmember to which said control lever is connected mounted on said firstmember for pivotable movement about a second axis, and ball joint meansoperatively connecting said second member and another one of saidcontrol rods and having its center of rotation on said first axis andspaced from said second axis, whEreby a control rod is moved only whenthe member connected thereto is pivoted about its axis in response tomovement of said control lever.